He asked me that where I was going.
Identifying Grammatical Errors in Reported Speech
This question asks to identify a grammatical or structural error in the sentence: "He asked me that where I was going." We need to examine the structure of reported questions.
Understanding Indirect Questions
When we report a question someone asked, we are converting direct speech into indirect (or reported) speech. There are specific rules for this conversion, especially concerning the introductory verb (like 'asked') and the structure of the reported question itself.
- When the original question starts with a question word (like where, what, when, who, why, how), we use that same question word to introduce the reported clause.
- We do not use 'that' before the question word in reported questions. The conjunction 'that' is typically used to introduce reported statements, not questions.
- The word order in the reported question changes from interrogative (verb before subject) to declarative (subject before verb).
Analyzing the Sentence Structure
Let's break down the given sentence: "He asked me that where I was going."
- "He asked me": This part is correct and sets up the indirect question.
- "that where I was going": This is the reported clause.
According to the rules of reported speech:
- The question word is 'where'.
- The conjunction 'that' is unnecessarily included before 'where'.
- The word order 'I was going' is correct for an indirect question (subject 'I' before the verb phrase 'was going').
The phrase "that where" creates a structural error. The word 'that' should be omitted.
Correcting the Error
The correct way to structure this reported question is:
He asked me where I was going.
Identifying the Erroneous Part
Comparing the options with our analysis:
- Option 1: \(I was going\) - This part is grammatically correct.
- Option 2: \(He asked me\) - This part is grammatically correct.
- Option 3: \(No error\) - This is incorrect because there is an error.
- Option 4: \(that where\) - This phrase contains the identified grammatical error. The inclusion of 'that' before the question word 'where' is incorrect in reported questions.
Therefore, the part containing the grammatical or structural error is "that where".
Similar Questions
- Identify the error in the sentence.
By the time they arrive, the concert had ended. - Find the incorrect part of the sentence:
She has been teaching in this school since five years. - Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
The teacher who had conducted the workshop earlier, (1)/ along with his assistants, (2)/ have submitted the final report to the board (3)/ before the deadline last week. (4) - Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
Each participant who registered online for the event (1)/ were given a welcome kit (2)/ along with the program schedule and map (3)/ at the helpdesk near the entrance. (4)/ - Find the part of the sentence that contains an error:
One of the guest speakers who addressed the seminar (1)/ and interacted with students (2)/ were praised widely for their clarity and enthusiasm (3)/ during the closing ceremony. (4) - Identify the part containing a grammatical or structural error:
Neither the Principal nor the teachers was present. - The authorities had taken the emergency steps before the storm hit.
- Change the following from active to passive:
People believe that the company will launch the new product before the end of this fiscal year. - Rearrange the following steps of the Union Budget preparation in the correct order:
P. The finance minister presents the budget in Parliament
Q. The Ministry of Finance collects estimates from various ministries
R. The budget is passed by both houses of Parliament
S. The Cabinet approves the final draft of the budget - Which of the given options is the most logical sequencing of the following sentences to form a meaningful paragraph?
1. The advancements in science led by figures like Copernicus, Galileo and Descartes also questioned its established views of the
universe.
2. It encouraged the growth of secularism and individualism, drawing inspiration from the classical works of ancient Greece and
Rome.
3. The invention of the printing press further accelerated this shift, making books more accessible and promoting literacy and
individual thinking.
4. The Renaissance ushered in a new era that questioned the monopoly of the Roman Catholic Church on knowledge and spiritual
guidance.
Important Questions from Error Spotting
Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
A honest mistake (a) / is no more than that; (b) / just an honest mistake. (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
A company of five thousand soldiers , (a) / having marched tirelessly for over five days , (b) / have just moved into their cantonment . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
Every person who believes in principles (a) / must stand up to fight (b) / for their convictions . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is any error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
The Olympic Games reflects(a) / the highest spirit of (b) / human endeavour and achievement . (c) / No error (d)Direction: Each item in this section has a sentence with three underlined parts labelled (a), (b) and (c) Read each sentence to determine whether there is an error in any underlined part and indicate your response in the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter, i.e., (a) or (b) or (c). If you find no error, your response should be indicated as (d).
The principal of the school (a) / stressed the need for discipline (b) / amongst the students. (c) / No error (d)
